Waldron Mission Fund

 

Under the oversight of the elders of the Crossville church of Christ, PO Box 211, Crossville, TN 38557

Vol. 41                                                                        February 2007                                                                           No. 2

THE TSUNAMI COAST REVISITED

 

                 It was on the 12th of January 2005, just eighteen days after the Tsunami struck (Dec. 26, 2004), that Don Iverson and I were in Nagapathinam (Na-ga-putt-ee-nam), Tamil Nadu, S. India, which was one of the worst affected cities in that country.  That huge wave destroyed an estimated 200,000 in eleven countries and ten thousand of those died on India’s eastern sea board.  To make a comparison, some 1,500 died in Louisiana and Mississippi during the horror that was Katrina.  As I wrote before, through you help and that of others we were able to aid about 25,000 individuals with physical help; yet the most important work that was accomplished was the preaching of Jesus and His kingdom by our Tamil brethren as they visited among the victims.  That work has continued until this hour.  Don Iverson was back there in mid-January to aid in a two-week bicycle campaign.  His report is given below.  Note how he mentions that there are now 71 new congregations on the Tamil Nadu coast.

DON IVERSON’S EMAIL FROM TAMIL NADU

“And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Rev. 12:17).

“January 19, Tamil Nadu, India:  It is my privilege to be here, traveling throughout the tsunami areas where seventy-one new congregations of the Lord’s church have been established.  We are here to “go again and visit our brethren” (Acts 15:36).  My heart is filled with joy as I observe these babes in Christ.  I love them for their faith and with eagerness we shake hands and hug (Rom. 16:16).  But along with the joy comes sorrow.  Our brethren here are suffering, being persecuted in so many ways, but, “have not resisted unto blood” (Heb. 12:4). 

     “Arriving in Kuthan Guli I was so anxious to see brother Jeba and his wife.  They were baptized shortly after the tsunami and immediately started teaching thirty children in their village.  The church grew mightily there and on my first visit (about one year ago) there were more than 100 souls gathered for worship.

     “I quickly made my way to the grass hut in Jeba’s back yard.  The shed (about 25’ x 40’) was wall-to-wall with people, and all were singing Tamil hymns.  Just before I stood to preach, Santhanaraj (who often changes my sermon topic five minutes before time to begin) informed me that these brothers were really suffering for their faith.

                 “I started my lesson enthusiastically, as I normally do.  I was greeted with smiles, but there was an obvious mood of anxiousness that filled the room. 

I preached my heart out as best I could about Christ’s sufferings and the example he left for us (I Pet. 2:21).  The brethren looked at me as if to say, ‘Yes, we know I Peter 2:21, and we know sometimes we must suffer.’  I felt embarrassed and unworthy to even share these verses.  I’m not among the ones being threatened.  I’m not worried about how I can feed my children.  For a brief moment I even wished some of the radicals would beat me so I could have fellowship in the suffering (I Pet. 3:14).

     “Following the service Jeba invited me into his humble house.  I have eaten many strange things in his home, including fish gravy, and did not know what to expect.  I was completely shocked when our sister emerged from the kitchen carrying a Diet Pepsi.  How could they know I like this?  Where did they manage to find Diet Pepsi in this very remote village?  Jeba had traveled twenty-five miles (one way) just to retrieve the surprise.  It was hard to drink the beverage, knowing the price that was paid.  Who am I?

     “We talked at length and Jeba explained how so many of the brethren were suffering.  Jeba himself is a  driver and recently bought a small vehicle.  The entire village was warned that no one should use his services because he is a member of the church of Christ.  He has had one fare in fifteen days and wonders how he will make his car payment.  A rat ran under foot as Jeba went on to explain how that some officials had come to him and offered a new house free if he would only leave the church of Christ and stop the meeting in his back yard.  This man, who has found vipers living in his grass ceiling/roof said flatly, ‘No!’  He would rather suffer for Christ.

     “In this area, as in Nagapathinam, some villages are imposing a 10,000 rupees fine ($220) on anybody caught worshipping with the church of Christ.  I asked,  ‘What can they do to collect?  Our brethren have no money.’  But the failure to pay their fine is an excuse for the village officials to put them out of their houses and to withdraw the fellowship of the village.  One of our preacher students in Tirunelveli has lost everything.  Their worldly belongings are gone and Satan can no longer threaten them in that way.

     “Money is not the answer to this problem.  That could spoil our brothers and cause great harm.  More than material goods our new brothers need strength to stay faithful till the end (Rev. 2:10).  Please, I beseech you, please pray for these precious saints.” 

 

CAMPAIGN UPDATE:  Since the campaign began, two weeks ago, we have now baptized 116 new souls into Christ.

NORTHEAST INDIA

The Shillong Bible School lies about 1750 miles northeast of Tamil Nadu.  It was from this school last summer we sent our students to work in refugee camps near Diphu, Assam.  We left two brothers there to do follow up work.  Here is their report:

 

EVANGELISM:

“As God heard our prayer a young man Robert Timung of the Believer’s Church (this is similar to a Baptist church) obeying the Gospel and Baptized on 23rd Jan. 07 at 12 noon at Langsolet, 16 kilometers (ten miles ) from Diphu.  Some denominational people so far worshipping by themselves in one house every Sunday without their leaders in Langsolet (these people pulled out of their local church and invited our brothers to visit them and teach the Bible).  My wife went with us and we conducting a Sunday meeting for them after our own worship, 8 kilometers (5 miles) east of Diphu.  (We have also) Performing a night Gospel meeting and several day time visits.  They pay full attention towards the sound doctoring we have taught and brother Robert Timung is the first fruit from them.  Now we shifted our 8 km congregation to 16 km Langsolet.  Because there is no brother left in the 8 km location.

BAGHMARI:

“The Baptist church offering time (for us) to speak in their worship.  I went to meet them later and my wife went with me visiting the leaders.  Each one welcomed us to come back time to time.

SING GAON:

“We conduct gospel meeting once a week in this non-Christian Gaon (gaon means village and Dijamni is speaking of Hindu people from the country of Nepal).  Me and my wife visiting some Nepali families around this village.

DIPHU TOWN BAPTIST CHURCH:

“Sometime we speak in their Sunday worship.  Other days we visit their leaders in different places.

KALIBITHI CHURCH OF CHRIST 191 km (120 miles):

“Right now (Saturday, January 27) we are on the way to Kalibithi, brother Peter is with me for Sunday worship there and this is our 2nd time visit to them.  They are too weak in doctrine.  Brother Linder we left in Diphu with the three brothers to conduct worship meeting at Langsolat tomorrow.”

 

Bible courses, tracts, radio and TV preaching are good but to build strong local churches of Christ there must be evangelists, preachers, teachers and elders on the ground.  God willing this year will see more men enrolled in our schools than ever before.  Please help us in this work of faith and labor of love.

 

 

With love to all,   

 

Jim E. Waldron